Hospital annunciator system



Feb. 28, 1956 H. MCLAIN 2,736,888

HOSPITAL ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1953 V @MM Z24 P1 Q.-

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Feb. 28, 1956 G. H. M LAIN HOSPITAL ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Feb. 9, 1953 INVEN TOR. GA'OKGZ /7 M 4 fi/M J flrramv rs UnitedStates Patent O This invention relates generally to annunciator systemsand more particularly to a hospital annunciator system I adapted toindicate at a central point the needs of a plurality of bed patients ina number of rooms or wards.

Conventional hospital annunciator systems comprise nothing more than anannunciator indicator, showing room numbers or bed numbers, adapted tobe operated by a push button disposed adjacent to the bed of eachpatient. When the patient calls a nurse by operating the annunciator, itis impossible for him to convey any information other than his need forattention. Thus, a nurse answers the call by going to the patient,learning that he needs water or a bed pan or some other apparatus, afterwhich she must go to a store room and return with the desired item.Thus, a nurse must make two complete trips to a patients bedside inanswering his annunciator.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide anannunciator system for hospitals having apparatus adapted to indicateone of several of the standard needs of the hospital patient.

In accordance with this invention there is provided an annunciatorsystem comprising a plurality of annunciators at a central point, eachof which is adapted to give indications of a specific need of a bedpatient, and control circuits each including selector switches at eachpatients bed for setting the annunciators to indicate the particularpatients needs.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement ofannunciatorsat a central point in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of the arrangement of the variouscomponents of a control circuit adapted to control each of theannunciators shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing one modification of a circuit forcontrolling the annunciators illustrated in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating another modification of acontrol circuit for each of the annunciators shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a multiple switch adapted to be used ineach of the control circuits shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is provided anannunciator system comprising a plurality of indicators or annunciators10 arranged at a central point as illustrated in Fig. 1, where anattending nurse can observe all of the annunciators simultaneously andascertain the needs of the various patients in her charge. Eachannunciator comprises a volt meter of conventional internal constructionhaving labels 11 disposed about its periphery and on its face, eachlabel bearing information such as bed pan, nurse, water, etc. Eachannunciator 10 also includes at the upper portion thereof a signal orattention lamp 12 together with indicia 14 show- 2,736,888 Patented Feb.as, 1956 ing the room-number or bed number of the patient making aparticular call.

In each patients room or adjacent to his bed there is provided a chestof drawers 15 or other piece of furniture within which may be housed atransformer and relay box 16 the details of which are illustrated morein detail in Figs. 3 and 4. A push button switch 18 such as that shownin Fig. 5 may be supported by means of a jointed arm structure 19clamped to the bed 20 by means of a suitable conventional clamp 21 formovably and adjustably supporting the switch for the convenience of thepatient;

Fig. 3 illustrates a control circuit for each annunciator 10 whichcomprises a voltage divider in the form of an auto transformer 23connected to one side of annunciator 10, and a plurality of push buttonsignalling switches 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29, each of which includes acon tact 30 connected to one of the taps such as 31, of transformer 23.Each of the switches also includes a contact such as 32 connected inmultiple through conductor 33 to signal lamp 12. The other side of thelamp may be connected to a commercial power source 35. The movablecontact of each switch maybe connected through conductor 36 to the otherside of power source 35. When switch 24 is closed, for example, voltageis connected across lamp 12 through contact 32-, and simultaneously theentire winding of transformer 23 is connected across the annunciator 10.Since the annunciator is a volt meter, its needle; will be rotated inaccordance with the voltage impressed thereon through approximately 315to point to the label urinal. If switch 25 is closed by the patient;then a lesser amount of voltage is impressed on annunciator 10, and theneedle will indicate the patients need of an orderly. Each of theswitches 26, 2-7, 28 and 29 impresses a progressively smaller voltage onannunciator 10 and, therefore, each of the other labels will be pointedout by the pointer when the proper switches are operated.

Fig. 4 illustrates another modification of the circuit shown in Fig. 3wherein individual voltage dividing trans formers 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and43 are substituted for auto transformer 23. In this type of circuit itis necessary' to provide cut-out, or isolating switching relays in thesecondary circuits of each transformer and, therefore, relays 45, 46,41, 48, 49 and 50 are connected across the secondary windings oftransformers 39 to 43, respectively Each of the signalling switches 24to 29 are connected to separate primary windings of transformers 3i; to43, respectively, and each of these switches includes two contacts, onefor energizing a primary winding and the other for energizing a signalor attention lamp 1?. of annunciator 10. When switch 24 is closed, forexample, the primary winding of transformer 38 is energized, energizingthe secondary winding of that transformer and also energizing thewinding of relay 45, closing its contacts and impressing a predeterminedvoltage, for example, volts on annunciator 10. As in the case of switch24 in Fig. 3, maximum voltage is impressed on annunciator 10, and thepointer will indicate urinal. The purpose of relays 45 to 50 is toprevent connection of relatively high voltage to relatively low voltagesecondaries. Thus, when relay 45 closes its contacts, the 90 volts isconnected only to annunciator 10, all of the other relay contacts beingopen, thereby to prevent connection of a high voltage to a low voltagewinding.

The operation of this circuit is otherwise identical to that describedin connection with Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates a re-settable push button signallingswitch 18 having structure which holds the switch closed after it hasonce been operated, but which may be released as soon as a call has beenan- 2,7se,sss

swered. The switch also has structure which causes automatic resettingof an operated switch when a second switch is operated.

Switch 18 comprises a casing 55 having apertures in the front and rearsides thereof for slidably supporting a plurality of switch operatingcam bars 56, 57 and 58. Each cam bar includes a push button 59, arelease cam such as 5%), and a switch operating cam surface 61. Each ofthe cams as cooperate with a rotatable latch bar 62 pivotally mounted inthe ends of box 55 and biased in a counterclockwise direction by meansof springs 63 and 64, each of which may be hooked to the end of the boxand to the left hand edge of bar 62. Each of the switch operating cambars 56, 57, 58 is biased to an outer idle position by means of springssuch as 65 which are compressed between the rear side of box 55 and pins66 mounted in the cam bars 56, 57, 58.

Each of the cam bars is associated with a pile of switch contactscomprising three contacts 24, 3t), 32 corresponding to those illustratedin Figs. 3 and 4. The switch also includes a reset mechanism comprisinga bar 76 having a cam 71 and a biasing spring 72. This bar is identicalto the switch operating bars except that it has no cam surface foroperating switch members.

In operation, the switch bar 58 may be pushed inwardly moving cam 6under the pivoted latch 62. Cam 6% rotates latch bar 62 in a clockwisedirection whereby the switch bar is permitted to move from the forwardside of latch bar 62 to the rear side of bar 62. When the switch bar isreleased from pressure, spring 65 moves it in a forward direction untilthe perpendicular side of cam so engages the rear side of latch bar 62,whereby the bar 58 is locked in its rearmost position. In this position,cam surface 6:. will have closed the electrical contacts 24, 3b, 32associated therewith. When a second bar 56 is pushed inwardly or whenthe ret-set bar 71! is pushed inwardly, the associated cam 60 will pivotlatch bar 62 in a clockwise direction releasing any switch operating barwhich has been previously operated. In this manner a switch of this typefunctions to prevent two switches from being closed simultaneously. Thistype of switch also permits a nurse or other attendant to open anoperated switch by pushing the release bar 70 inwardly, whereby anyoperated annunciator may be restored to its idle position and itsindication removed.

While the invention has been disclosed as including voltmeters, it willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art that ammeters or otherelectrical measuring instruments may be substituted for voltmeters. alsobe readily understood that the annunciators 10 may be provided withlabels 11 hearing whatever indicia may be appropriate to the needs of aparticular patient. For example, patients in maternity wards or insurgery wards might have different needs which would require the use ofdifferent labels. The multiple switch illustrated in 5 is not shown withlabels under each button for the sake of clarity, but it will be obviousthat such a switch may be provided with suitable labels corresponding tothose utilized on a cooperating annunciator. Such labels may be readilychanged to correspond with expected needs of any particular patient.

The invention claimed is:

1. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized group orvoltage responsive indicators each of which includes an attention light;a source of power; and. a plurality of control circuits connectedbetween saidv indicators and said source of power, each circuitcomprising a plurality of transformers the secondary windings which havedifferent voltage outputs and are connected in multiple across one ofsaid indicators to provide an indication correlated to a particularvoltage output, normally open relay switch means connected across thesecondary winding of each transformer for isolating non-energizedsecondary windings with respect It will to the output voltage of anenergized secondary winding, and a plurality of signalling switches,each of which includes contacts connected between a primary winding of adifierent transformer and said source of power and other contactsconnected between said attention signal and said source of power.

2. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized group ofvoltage responsive indicators each of which includes an attention light;a source of power; and a plurality of control circuits connected betweensaid indicators and said source of power, each circuit comprising avoltage divider having different voltage outputs connected across one ofsaid indicators to provide an indication correlated to a particularvoltage output, relay switch means connected across each output forisolating non-energized outputs with respect to the output voltage of anenergized output, and a plurality of signalling switches, each of whichincludes contacts connected between a different portion of said voltagedivider and said source of power and other contacts connected betweensaid attention signal and said source of power.

3. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized group ofvoltage responsive indicators; a source of power; and a plurality ofcontrol circuits connected between said indicators and said source ofpower, each circuit comprising a voltage divider having diflferentvoltage outputs connected across one of said indicators to provide anindication correlated to a particular voltage output, relay switch meansconnected across each output for isolating non-energized outputs withrespect to the output voltage of an energized output, and a plurality ofsignalling switches, each of which includes contacts connected between adifferent portion of said voltage divider and said source of power.

4. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized group ofvoltage responsive indicators each of which includes an attention light,a source of power, and a plurality of control circuits connected betweensaid indicators and said source of power, each circuit comprising aplurality of transformers the secondary windings of which have differentvoltage outputs and are connected in multiple across one of saidindicators to provide an indication correlated to a particular voltageoutput, and a plurality of signalling switches each of which includescontacts connected between a primary winding of one of a different saidtransformers and said source of power and other contacts connectedbetween said attention signal and said source of power.

5. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized group ofvoltage responsive indicators; 21 source of power; and a plurality ofcontrol circuits connected between said indicators and said source ofpower, each circuit comprising a plurality of transformers the secondarywindings of which have different voltage outputs and are connected inmultiple across one of said indicators to provide an indicationcorrelated to a par ticular voltage output, and a plurality ofsignalling switches, each of which includes contacts connected between aprimary winding of a different one of said transformers and said sourceof power.

6. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized group ofvoltage responsive indicators; a source of power; and a plurality ofcontrol circuits connected between said indicators and said source ofpower, each circuit comprising a plurality of voltage sources each ofwhich have different voltage outputs and are connected in multipleacross one of said indicators to provide an indication. correlated to aparticular voltage output, normally open relay switch means connectedacross each said source for isolating non-energized sources with respectto the output voltage of an energized source, and a plurality ofsignalling switches, each of which includes contacts connected between adifferent one of said sources and said source of power.

7. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized group ofvoltage responsive indicators each of which includes an attention light,a source of power, and a plurality of control circuits connected betweensaid indicators and said source of power, each circuit comprising aplurality of voltage dividers, each of which have different voltageoutputs and are connected in multiple across one of said indicators toprovide an in dication correlated to a particular voltage output, and aplurality of signalling switches each of which includes contactsconnected between a dilferent voltage divider and said source of powerand other contacts connected between said attention signal and saidsource of power.

8. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized group ofvoltage responsive indicators each of which includes an attention light;a source of power; and a plurality of control circuits connected betweensaid indicators and said source of power, each circuit comprising anauto-transformer having a plurality of taps to provide different voltageoutputs across one of said indicators to provide an indicationcorrelated to a particular voltage output, and a plurality of signallingswitches, each of which includes contacts connected between a tap of oneof said transformers and said source of power and other contactsconnected between said attention signal and said source of power.

9. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized group ofvoltage responsive indicators; 21 source of power; and a plurality ofcontrol circuits connected between said indicators and said source ofpower, each circuit comprising an auto-transformer having a plurality oftaps to provide difierent voltage outputs across one of said indicatorsto provide an indication correlated to a particular voltage output, anda plurality of signalling switches, each of which includes contactsconnected between a tap of one of said transformers and said source ofpower.

10. An annunciator system for hospitals comprising a centralized groupof voltage responsive indicators each of which includes an attentionlight, a source of power, and a plurality of control circuits connectedbetween said indicators and said source of power, each circuitcomprising a multi-section voltage divider coupled to one of saidindicators, each section of said divider having a difierent voltageoutput to provide an indication correlated to a particular voltageoutput, and a plurality of signalling switches each of which includescontacts connected between a different section of said voltage dividerand said source of power and other contacts connected between saidattention signal and said source of power.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,116,407 Friedrick Nov. 10, 1914 1,230,410 Kaisling June 19, 19171,626,560 Schneider Apr. 26, 1927 1,751,972 Bobrotf Mar. 25, 19301,826,501 Bobroff Oct. 6, 1931 2,333,406 Ballard Nov. 2, 1943 2,374,439Korevac Apr. 24, 1945 2,599,702 Elliott June 10, 1952 2,622,141 Obermanet al. Dec. 16, 1952

